Duskin to Unveil Franchised Curtain Rental Business in 2001
January 5, 2001
Osaka, Japan — Duskin Company Ltd., a publicly held Japanese company will introduce a new franchised curtain rental business geared to the long-term residential market in 480 Japanese locations on 1 April 2001 by franchising all of its business activities.
Duskin has 8,400 franchised business outlets in Japan in many types of businesses ranging from janitorial supplies, environmental health and hygiene as well as food services. At one time, Duskin was the master franchisee of Decorating Den, an in-home decorating service based in Bethesda, MD (U.S.A.), but that arrangement ended several years ago, a Decorating Den official confirmed. One of the problems encountered by Duskin in that program had to do with the habits of Japanese families. In Japan, the homemaker is more wary than their Western counterparts of inviting vendors into their homes. Taking its cue from that fact, Duskin is finding that the Japanese like to order their curtains from a central location on a rental basis for long-term residential use.
A source close to Duskin has confirmed the rollout of the new curtain rental program and expects to provide more details to Fabrics & Furnishings International in the future after further refinements are made. Initially, the target market for the drapery rental program in Japan is 30 million families. A sales promotion program has been started to attract the 480 franchisees. Eventually, the program could be expanded to reach 720 regional markets in Japan. Furthermore, the program is scheduled for expansion to overseas markets, especially the U.S.A.
Market observers said this may be the first time a company has launched a curtain rental business in Japan or anywhere else. It is expected that Duskin's curtain rental program will create an entirely new business, one source said.
The program has been tested in two regional rollouts in Japan this Autumn. Using two prototype products designed by Anita Fey & Associates in Los Angeles, Duskin received orders from 25 percent of the 350 consumers who were invited to the presentation.
Through a questionnaire, Duskin said it learned that 75 percent of the consumers accept the drapery rental program as presented. The company expects to fine tune the program by its April launch in Japan by working with Anita Fey on the curtain designs and with offshore fabric suppliers.
Work on the project started last June when Anita Fey met with Duskin executives in Los Angeles. Fey has a long history in the contract design business with clients like Hyatt International and Hilton Hotels. Her work is known in the U.S.A. and internationally. She is the main designer for the Duskin curtain rental project at this time. She is in the process of coordinating and designing the final program. F&FI
Duskin has 8,400 franchised business outlets in Japan in many types of businesses ranging from janitorial supplies, environmental health and hygiene as well as food services. At one time, Duskin was the master franchisee of Decorating Den, an in-home decorating service based in Bethesda, MD (U.S.A.), but that arrangement ended several years ago, a Decorating Den official confirmed. One of the problems encountered by Duskin in that program had to do with the habits of Japanese families. In Japan, the homemaker is more wary than their Western counterparts of inviting vendors into their homes. Taking its cue from that fact, Duskin is finding that the Japanese like to order their curtains from a central location on a rental basis for long-term residential use.
A source close to Duskin has confirmed the rollout of the new curtain rental program and expects to provide more details to Fabrics & Furnishings International in the future after further refinements are made. Initially, the target market for the drapery rental program in Japan is 30 million families. A sales promotion program has been started to attract the 480 franchisees. Eventually, the program could be expanded to reach 720 regional markets in Japan. Furthermore, the program is scheduled for expansion to overseas markets, especially the U.S.A.
Market observers said this may be the first time a company has launched a curtain rental business in Japan or anywhere else. It is expected that Duskin's curtain rental program will create an entirely new business, one source said.
The program has been tested in two regional rollouts in Japan this Autumn. Using two prototype products designed by Anita Fey & Associates in Los Angeles, Duskin received orders from 25 percent of the 350 consumers who were invited to the presentation.
Through a questionnaire, Duskin said it learned that 75 percent of the consumers accept the drapery rental program as presented. The company expects to fine tune the program by its April launch in Japan by working with Anita Fey on the curtain designs and with offshore fabric suppliers.
Work on the project started last June when Anita Fey met with Duskin executives in Los Angeles. Fey has a long history in the contract design business with clients like Hyatt International and Hilton Hotels. Her work is known in the U.S.A. and internationally. She is the main designer for the Duskin curtain rental project at this time. She is in the process of coordinating and designing the final program. F&FI
